Each of the walkers who took part in a mini WalkAmerica is a miracle. Every one of them spent the first months of their lives in a neonatal intensive care unit where specialized care is provided.

As they made their way around the perimeter of the D. Patrick Robinson Room at Lehigh Valley Bank on Tuesday, they wore WalkAmerica T-shirts and carried red and white balloons.

They do not yet realize that they are the benefactors of the walk and other March of Dimes programs.

But, that is why they were there.

"The walk is to illustrate just one thing the March of Dimes has done extremely well. We hone in on this one thing, and it is obvious that the children are here as a result of our gifts," C. Andrew Cook, walk chairman and president and chief executive officer of the bank said.

The Easton, Bethlehem and Carbon walks will be held April 23, and the Allentown and Pocono Mountain walks April 24. More than 850,000 take part in the walks that are held in more than 1,400 communities nationwide each year.

The message, "Save America's Babies One Step at a Time," was written on the T-shirts worn by the children.

Three-year-old Christi Steltz offered to help Evan Fraley of Bethlehem with his shirt. Evan declined the offer and turned to his mother, Stephanie Steltz, who was helping twin brother Myles. Evan and Myles were born two months premature and weighed 3 pounds 8-1/2 ounces and 3 pounds 14 ounces, respectively. They spent one month in the unit at St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill.

Christi Steltz of Macungie was born 3-1/2 years ago. She and her twin siblings, Allison and David, all spent time in the unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township. Allison weighed 1 pound 6-3/4 ounces at birth, and David weighed 2 pounds. Christi, who weighed 4 pounds 9 ounces at birth, twirled her Barbie doll as she spoke about marching in a parade.

Christi's mother Linda and her grandmother Patricia Bisbing held the twins, who alternately cried and cooed. Steltz of Macungie said, "I was blessed to be in the Lehigh Valley when they were born. I had no idea what a neonatal ICU was, but I knew my babies would be early. The staff was wonderful."

Of the March of Dimes, she said, "I know if I need it, help is available from the March of Dimes. So far, the twins seem to be OK."

The sound of children echoed across the room. As Cook spoke about the walk and March of Dimes accomplishments into birth defect research, the sound of children grew louder.

It was the sound of young children who had experienced difficulties at a very early age. On Tuesday, they laughed, crawled across and on their seats and gestured animatedly as they tried to express themselves, and jabbered and played with their parents. The parents smiled.